Developing apparatus



March 5, 1929. LANGSNER 1,704,439

DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5, 1929.A. LANGSNER DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-SheetMarch 5, 1929. LANGSNER 1,704,439

DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1928 s heats-Sheet 3 Patented Mar.5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,704,439 PATENT OFF-ICE- ADOLPE LANGSNER, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE DIETZGEN COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 13, 1928. Serial No. 253,867.

My invention relates to an apparatus for developing light sensitivematerial by the action of chemically active gases such as, for instance,ammonia gas.

The objects of my invention are to provide a very convenient andcompactly constructed apparatus for developing sheets of light sensitivematerial such as paper, by the action of the chemically active gas andwherein means is provided for inserting the sheet of material into theapparatus and moving it into position where it is subjected to thedeveloping action of the gas and without permitting the escape of thegas from the apparatus. v

Still another object of my invention resides in the novel arrangement ofthe enclosing casing having'an inlet through which the light sensitivematerial is inserted into the casing together with the arrangement ofmeans for feeding the material into position to be developed and wherebythe feeding means includes a rotatable drum upon which the material iswound and also suitably ar ranged feeding means in the form of cords orbelts between which the light sensitive material is carried and is woundupon the drum. Still another object of my invention resides in providinga commercial type of device which includes a relatively compactlydisposedenclosing cabinet having an opening therein and containing asource of developing gas and feeding means for conveying light sensitivematerial inserted in the opening of the cabinet into developing positionand to discharge the same out through said inlet opening after thedeveloping action.

Still another object of my invention resides inthe novel arrangement ofwinding drum and spring controlled feed rollers carrying the feedingstrings or cords whereby such cords connected to both tlie rolls anddrum are constructed and arranged upon manual movementof the drum tofeed the light sen- & sitive material inserted between the cords ontothe drum to he developed and thereafter to automatically return thedeveloped material and discharge it outside of the cabinet. -Stillanother object of my invention re- 9 sides in the details ofconstruction of the winding drum and the feed rolls and the cordconnections from the rolls to the drum including the springs and thehandle mechanism for rotating the drum to feed the material thereon'toand for automatically returning the drum and rolls and cords to originalposition for discharging the developed material therefrom. a

Still another object of my invention resides 1n the modified form ofconstruction of my apparatus wherein instead of winding the lightsensitive material in sheet form upon an arcuate drum, I provide meansfor feed: mg the light sensitive material into the cabinet in flatcondition and in positon to be deyeloped and then for automaticallyreturning the same or discharging the same out through the said inlet.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a perusalof the following specification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherem:

Figure 1 is a front view with parts broken away showing the preferredconstruction of my apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view looking from the end;

Figure 3 is a detail view of one of the feed rolls upon which the cordsare mounted;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a modified form of the drum of my apparatus.

Figure '7 is a modified form of my apparatns.

Referring now in general to my invention, it comprises an enclosingcabinet of convenient shape and size and of adequate capacity to receivetherein the maximum size sheet of light sensitive material such aspaper.

In addition, the cabinet or housing contains a tank holding developingliquid such as ammonia, adapted to evolve or give ofi chemically activegases such as ammonia gas for developing the light sensitive materialand which tank may be filled from a point outside of the cabinet andclosed so that the ammonia does not escape. In addition. the cabinetcontains a slot or inlet, suitably scaled by packing constructed andarranged to permit sheets of light sensitive material to be inserted orfed into the cabinet but at the same time preventing the escape ofthedeveloping gas through said inlet. In addition, within the cabinet, Iprovide a pair of feed rolls directly opposite the inlet and arranged sothat when the sheet of material is inserted at the ends by suitable endplates'20, likethrough the opening, it is fed between the bite of theserolls. Each of the rolls carries a flexible feeding member preferably inthe form of a plurality of cords, preferably adapted to wind up ingrooves on-the rolls. The opposite ends of these cords are connected toa shiftable feed drum preferably rotatable so that when the latter isoperated, the feed devices on the rolls will be unwound and in turn willbe wound. up on the feed drum whereby to carry the light sentitivematerial in position between the cords as they are unwound through theinterior of the cabinet and in the preferred form, to wind this lightsensitive material upon the drum. Since the drum is of openconstruction, the developing gas in the cabinet will have free access tothe light sensitive side of the material and will devciopit. ,Inaddition, means is provided, preferably spring means, for causing thefeed rolls carrying said belts or member, to wind up again when therotatable drum is released and thereby discharge the light sensitivematerial back out through the inlet opening.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that in thepreferred and commercial type of my invention I provide an enclosingcasing consisting of a base 2 of.

sheet metal or any appropriate material which is not corroded by theaction of the delevoping gases and a substantially and preferablyarcuate body 4 forming a top and sides and secured to the base by meansof reenforcing edge pieces 6 and 8 suitably riveted as at 10. Inaddition, the sides may be provided with transparent windows 12 of glassor other material so that the developing operation may be suitablyviewed. As shown clearly in Figure 2, this glass 15 mounted and held inposition by means of the strips 14 and rivets 16 and by.means ofsuitable packing members 18 of metal or other material so as to form agas tight joint at the margins of the glass. The base is closed wiseriveted to the base and sides by means of riveted strips. Furthermore,the casing is supported and re-enforced at the corners by appropriatelydesigned angle pieces 22 which are fastened to the sides and ends bymeans of rivets or bolts 24 whereby a gastight enclosing housing isprovided.

The bottom portion of the front of the housing is provided with a slot26 which extends the entire width of the front of the casing and thisslot is normally closed by means of a flexible packing 28'of rubber orfelt, the same being held in place by means of suitable rivets or bolts30 whereby developing gas within the cabinet is prevented from escapingthrough this inlet while at the same time, due to the flexible nature ofthe packing, light sensitive material may be inserted between two guidestrips 32 and 34 secured to the front wall 36 of the casing by the bolts30. These guide strips 32 and 34 extend the width of the apparatus.IVithin the casing. I mount a suitable base 38, a tank 40 preferablyopen at the top and containing a source of developing liquid adapted toevolve or give off chemically active gases. In the present instance,this tank is adapted to contain liquid ammonia which gives off ammoniagas. This tank 40 is filled or emptied, by means of a pipe 42 passingthrough a packing 44 in the rear wall 46 of the cabinet andcommunicating by means of a nozzle 48 with.

a' flexible filling or emptying tube 50, the upper end of which isnormally held in a bifurcated bracket 52 enclosed by a stopper 54.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, I provide thiscabinet with a relatively large winding drum. This drum is preferablymounted upon a shaft 56 having roller bearings 58 mounted inappropriately formed bearing supports 60 fastened as at;

62 to the end plates 64 of the cabinet. The outer ends of the shaft 56project through the bearings 58 and rigidly connect with a turninghandle 66 which in turn cooperates with a stop 68 slidably mounted on acylindrical stud 7O rigidly carried by the end wall 64. This stop isnormally spring pressed in an outwarddirection by means of a spring 72so as to lie within the path of the handle 66 when it is turned. Thus,this stop willpermit one complete rotation of the handle and will thenbring the same to rest. The stop is arranged so that the handle may berotated further if desired by forcing the stop 68 inward against thetension of the spring 72 as will be hereinafter explained The windingdrum is mounted directly upon the shaft 56 within the housing. ThisWinding drum comprises two identical end hearings in the form of collars84 pinned as-at 76 to shaft 56 and also includes a clamping disk orcollar 78 which may be clamped to the disk 74 bymeans of bolts and nuts80 so as to clamp therebetween a Wire mesh cylinder basket 82 which isarranged in the form of a drum and comprises a cylinder of this wiremesh and the two end plates likewise of wire mesh. Ifdesired, instead ofusing awire mesh I may use aforaminated body construction such as isshown in fragmentary view at 84 in Figure 6 of the drawings. The purposeof using an open type of drum is to permit the developing gases to passfreely therethrough so as to have access to the light sensitive materialadapted to be wound upon the drum. The interior of the cabinet alsocarries two auxiliary feed rolls or guide rolls which aremounted'directly opposite the inlet slot 26. These guide rolls arecarried on two shafts 86 and 88 which shafts are threaded upon theirouter ends as means of lock nuts 94, 96, 98, and 100. The ends of theshafts 90 and 92 are enclosed by means of sheet metal end caps 102 and104. Upon these stationary shafts 86 and 88, I

rotatably mount the two auxiliary feed rolls peripheral grooves or slots118 and 120 which in in slots extend longitudinally of the rolls andinspaced apart relation. Each of these slots has a cord or string or feedbelt 122 wound therein. As shown in Figure 3 one end of this string isrigidly attached to .a transversely disposed retaining rod or wire 124which lies in a transverse groove extending across the slots 118 and120. This transverse wire or rod is suitably held in position by meansof screws or other fastening devices 126 seated in sockets 128 in thefeed roll and I prefer to tie each cord by means of a knot 130 to thisrod. The opposite end of each one of these springs, after windingseveral times in the groove, passes around and is attached by tying tothe meshes of foraminations 132 of the wire mesh drum 82. In-Figure 6 ofthe drawings-I have shown a fragmentary modified'view of the drumwhereinthe same is composed. of foraminated material instead of wire meshmaterial as in Figure 1. Any

type of means for attaching the ends of the 'cords or belts to eitherthe drum or the feed rolls may be utilized.

In addition, means is provided for automatically keeping the feed rollsin position with the cords 122 wound thereupon and this isaccomplished'by providing a coil spring 134 and .136 within each roll.These springs have one end 138 and 140 attached directly to the shafts88 and 86 respectively and the other end 142 and 144 is fastened to theinner portion of the roll so that in the operation of the device, whenthe handle 72 of the drum is turned the cords attached thereto will .be

unwound from each feed roll and the drum will be rotated so as to windthese cords upon the drum and any light sensitive material thathas beenfed through the slot 26 of the cabinet into position between the bite ofthe rolls and between the cords will necessarily be carried along by thecords and wound upon the foraminated drum. Thus the chemically activegas within the cabinet will have direct access to the light sensitiveside of this light sensitive material to develop the same.

After the developing action has been affected, the handle 72 is releasedso that the springs 134 and 136 within the rolls will return the rollsto original position whereby to again wind up the cords upon the rollsand to unwind the same from the drum whereby the light sensitivematerial will be discharged out through the inlet opening. The flexiblepackmg 28. at the opening will freely permit this discharge while at thesame time will not only prevent theescape of the gases but will also actpositively to wipe against the face of the llght sensitive material tosome of the occluded gases therefrom.

In. the modified form of my invention shown in Figure 7, instead of thecabinet bemg provided with a relatively large winding drum, I prefer toprovide at the rear portion thereof a relatively small feed roller 146rotatably mounted therein about which the cords 148 and 150 pass. Thesecords are in turn wound upon a relatively small drum 152 mounted at thefront portion of the machine and preferably directly above the pair offeed rolls 154 and 156 and which feed rolls are constructedsubstantially identical to the two feed rolls in Figures 1 and 2of'the-drawings.

In the modification-shown in Figure 7 these cords are attached to theroll 152 in the same manner, if desired, and this feed roll carries and156 are unwound sufficiently far and wound upon the drum 152 asufficient distance tocarry a sheet of light sensitive material from thepoint between the rolls 154 and 156 to the guide roll 146. This distancerepresents the width or length of the maximum partially remove sheet oflight sensitive material which is- 7 adapted to be developed. The objectof this construction is to permit a sheet of material to be developedwithin the appartus without curling or winding it upon 'a drum so thatthe material Wlll be developed flat. In some instances where fiatnessisnot of prime importance, the machine may be arranged to take a longerlengthof sheet, simply by pressing I in the stop 166, which is of thesame construction as stop 68 of Figure 2, and permitting the handle tobe moved another rotationso that the cords or belts will be stillfurther wound from rolls 154 and 156 and onto drum 152 so that the lightsensitive sheet will becarried not only along the lower stretch 168 butalso around the guide roll 146 and along the upper stretch 170., Hencedouble the length of the sheet may possibly be developed in this tvpe ofmachine.

In other respects the construction shown in Figure 7 of the drawings issubstantially identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a mostconvenient, compact, and simple type of developing apparatus forefl'ectivel developing sheets of light sensitive material by means ofchemical- 1y active gases and that my present apparatus 7 mosteffectively prevents the escape of the gas either during the insertionof the material or during its development or during the discharge of thematerial or thereafter. In

other words, by reason of the manner in which I insert and wind up orcarry the light sensitive material between the two feed belts or bymeans of a shiftable feeding means within the cabinet and particularlyby the arrangement of the packing in the inlet stop for preventing theescape of the gases and further by reason of the means for returning thelight sensitive material back through the slot,

I have provided a relatively small commercial type of device foraccomplishing all of the objects hereinbefore set forth.

It will further be apparent that the two grooved feed rolls upon whichthe cords are 0 normally wound, by reason of their location these rollsand it will further be noticed from opening.

the section of Figure 1 between the rolls, that because of the proximityof the rolls to each other at the bite, very little, if any, of the gaswill be permitted to escape therethrough so that these grooved rollscarrying the cords therein not only provide means for feeding the paperinto and out of the cabinet but in addition provide rotatable packingstrips for preventing the escape of the gases in the slot Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a developing apparatus, the combina- 5 tion of an enclosing casinghaving a common inlet and discharge openlng adapted to permit theinsertion of a sheet of light sensitive material therethrough, a sourceof developing gas within said casing, and means in said 5 casing adaptedto be operatedjo automatically feed the light sensitive materialinserted through said inlet to a position where in the whole of saidlight sensitive material is carried into the casing and subjected to 5the action of the developing gas, and means for returning the developedlight sensitive material back through said opening.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosinghousing having an inlet and a discharge, said Easing having a sourceofchemically active gas therein and having means for preventing escapeof the gas through said opening, and means in said cabinet for seizinglight sensitive material 05 inserted through said opening andpositlonfor automatically discharging the material,

from said cabinet.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosinghousing containing a source of developing gas and having an openingthrough which light sensitive material may be fed into the cabinet,feeding means in-said cabinet adapted upon manual operation to conveythe light sensitive material from said opening to a position whollywithin said cabinet to be developed, and means for automaticallydischarging the light sensitive material out through said opening.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosingcabinet having an opening for the insertion therethrough of lightsensitive material, a pair of feed rolls at said opening adapted toreceive the light sensitive material therebetween, conveying memberscarried by said feed rolls and nor mally wound thereupon, a shiftablemember in said cabinet to which said conveying members are-attachedwhereby upon movement of said member said conveying members will beunwound from the feed rolls to carry the light sensitive materialtherebetween and feed the same to a position within the'cabinet to bedeveloped.

6. Ida device of the class described, the combination of anenclosin'gcabinet having an opening for the insertion therethrough oflight sensitive material, a pair of feed rolls at said opening adaptedto receive the light sensitive material therebetween, conveying memberscarried by said feed rolls and normally wound thereupon, a shiftablemember in said cabinet to which said conveying members are attachedwhereby upon movement of said member said conveying members will beunwound from the feed rolls to carry the light sensitivematerial'therebetween and feed the same to a position within the cabinetto be developed, and nieans for re-winding said feed rolls whereby tore-convey the developed light sensitive material through said cabinetand discharge it from said opening.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a. cabinethaving an opening and having a source of chemically active gas, a pairof spring wound feed rolls having their bite disposed opposite saidopening, a rotatable drum mounted withinsaid cabinet, two series of cordbelts, each havin one end attached to and wound uponvsaid Iced rolls andhaving the opposite ends connected to the wound to normally turn in onedirect-ion, a" rotatable member in said cablnet and two sets -of cordshaving their respective ends condrum and adapted to be wound thereupon,means for rotating said drum and feed rolls for feeding the lightsensitive material into said cabinet and for discharging the lightsensitive material from said cabinet.

'8. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a cabinet containing asource of chemically active gas andhaving an inlet, a feed drum opposite said inlet, a second feed drumwithin said cabinet and means cooperating with said drums for conveyinglight sensitive material from said opening into position wholly withinthe cabinet to be developed and for returning saidinaterial out throughsaid inlet to be discharged from the cabinet.

9. In a device of the class described, thecombination of an enclosingcabinet containing a source of chemically active gas and having anopening, a' feed member disposed opposite said opening, an associatedfeed member within said casing, both of said feed members beingrotatable, and associated feeding devices adapted to translate lightsensitive material introduced through said opening into a positionwholly within said casing to be developed and for returning the same outthrough the opening of the cabinet.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having an opening and provided with a source of chemically activegas, a pair of feed rolls disposed opposite said opening and springnected to said rotatable member and to the pair of feed rolls, andmanual means for turning the rotatable member. V

11. In a device of the class "described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having an opening containing a source of chemical- 1y active gas,two shafts mounted in said easing adjacent said opening, hollow feedrolls mounted on said shafts and provided with spaced apart grooves,coil springs within saidrolls having one end connected to said feedshaft and the opposite end connected to the rolls, cords connected tosaid grooves and the rolls, a relatively large openly constructed drumrevolubly mounted within said casing and having the opposite ends ofsaid cords attached thereto, and a handle for said drum mounted on theoutside of said casing.

12. In a deviceof the class described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having an opening containing a source of phemically active gas,two shafts mounted in said casing adjacent said opening, hollow feedrolls I mounted on said shafts and provided with spaced apart grooves,coil springs within said rolls having one end connected to said feedshaft and the opposite end connected to the rolls, cords connected tosaid grooves and the rolls, a relatively large openly constructed drumrevolubly mounted within said casing and having the opposite ends ofsaid cords attached thereto, and a handle for said drum mounted on theoutside of said casing, and a spring operated stop member carried by theend of said casing and adapted to engage the handle after one rotationthereof.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sheet metalcasing of substantially circular outline having a flat base, said casinghaving transparent windows therein and being provided with a slot havinga flexible packing extending across the opening of the slot, two rollsdisposed opposite the opening opposite said slot, and guiding andpacking members connecting said opening with the bite of said rolls,said rolls having spaced apart peripheral grooves, spring means normallyurging said rolls in one direction, cords mounted in said grooves andhaving one end attached to the rolls, a relatively large drum having anaxle mounted in the ends of said casing and fixed to the axle within thecasing, said drum having perforations therein to permit the free passageof gases therethrough and having means for attaching the opposite endsof the cords to the periphery of said drum, and a handle carried by theend of said drum axle and mounted upon the exterior end of said casingfor turning the latter.

combination of an'enclosing casing having a slot in its front wall, twoshafts mounted in the end of said casing and spaced apart adjacent saidslot, hollow rolls mounted on said shafts, springs Within said rollshaving one end connected to the shaft and the other to the rolls, rollerbearings within said rolls for permitting diverse rotation of said rollson said shaft, said rolls having peripheral grooves and having atransversely extending groove extending longitudinally of the rolls,- awire mounted in said transverse groove and fastened to said rolls, cordsmounted in each of said peripheral grooves with the end of a cordattached to said wire, a relatively large rotatable drum, a shaftmounted in the ends of said casing with said drum mounted on said shaft,said drum being formed of wire mesh, clamping collars secured to saidshaft and to said wire mesh for clamping the drum in position on saidshaft, the exterior of said shaft outside of said casing carrying ahandle for rotating the latter and the opposite ends of said cordscarried by saidfeed rolls being atached to the peripheral portions ofthe wire mesh cylinder.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having anopening and containing a source of developing gas,spring operated feed rolls in said casing, means for turning said feedrolls and for feeding light sensitive material introduced therethroughinto position wholly within the casing, said feed rolls being operableby said springs to automatically discharge the material out through saidopening.

16. In a device of the class described, the

combination of an enclosing casing having a single opening for theinsertion and. d1scharge therethrough of light sensitive material, saidcasing providing a source of chemically active developing gas, and meansdisposed within said, casing for conveying light sensitive materialinserted through said opening, to a point wholly within the casing andin position to be acted upon by the developing through the wall of saidcasing for actuating the feeding means and additional means constructedand arranged to cause the automatic discharge of the light sensitivematerial out through said opening upon releaseof the actuating member.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having an opening for the insertion and withdrawal of lightsensitive material, a rotatable member within said casing, means forminga source ,of chemicallyvactive developing gas within said casing, and afiexiblemeans in said casing connected to the'rotatable member forgripping light sensitive material inserted into said opening andconveying the same substantially wholly within the housing fordevelopment and for returning the light sensitive material out throughsaid opening, said flexible conveying means being constructed andarranged to wind and unwind upon the rotatable member during theconveying movement.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with anenclosing housing ad apt- .scribed my name.

ed to contain a source of chemically active developing gas, said housmghaving an opening for insertion and withdrawal of light sensitivematerial, and a plurality of rotatable members mountedtwithin saidhousing, a plurality of flexible cords mterconnecting said rotatablemembers and adapted to wind and unwind thereon, said cords beingconstructed and arranged to receive the light sensitive materialtherebetween when inserted through said opening and to carry the samesubstantially wholly within the housing for development and tothereafter project the light sensitive material back through theopening, certain of said rotatable members being provided with aplurality of relatively large circumferential grooves in spaced apartrelation adapted to receive said cords and in which said cords may windand unwind.

20. In a device 'of the class described, the combination of an enclosinghousing of substantially rectangular shape provided with an arcuate top,a relatively large drum rotatably mounted in said housing with the axisof said drum lying concentrically within the arcuate portion of thehousing, said housing having a longitudinally extendingslot disposed inone wall thereof and adjacent the lower portion of the housing, apair ofguide rolls mounted in said housing opposite said opening, a pluralityof flexible cords disposed in spaced relation opposite said opening,certain of said cords being con-- nected to one of said rolls andcertain of the cords being connected to the other set of rolls and theopposite ends of 'both sets of cords being wound upon and connected tothe periphery of the drum, and means for causing the cords to be woundoff the pair of rolls onto' the drum whereby to convey light sensitivematerial carried between said cords from av point outside of said casingwholly into said casingthrough-the opening thereof and then forunwinding the light sensitive material from said drum on reversemovement ofsaid drum whereby to discharge the same. from the housing,and means for reversely rotating said drum.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- ADOLPH LANGSNER.

